Spa Valley Railway (SpVR) 5th April 2014

Unfortunately not a very productive trip to Tunbridge Wells and the Spa Valley Railway on this occasion. Upon arrival at the railway there was no diesel on the Eridge end of the set and the only noise coming from the shed area was that of a Sulzer. Investigations revealed 33063 running on shed, and being prepared by the crew to come off……….

It turned out that 31206, the rostered diesel for both Sat 5th & Sun 6th April, had problems with its exhausters and had been failed on shed; 33063 being the only other serviceable engine on shed to replace it! As all of the Spa Valley staff that knew what they were doing as far as the 31 went were out working the train service, there was nobody available to even attempt to fix it so after the first round trip to Eridge I was homeward bound; and 31206 was taken off the roster for its Sunday duties by the end of the day as well…….. The guys at the Spa Valley couldn’t apologise enough for our “wasted trip”; as with all things mechanical, and 50+ years old, these things happen and I left hoping it would be fixed for the following weekend!

Photos of 33063 at Eridge are below: